04/05/2001 03:35 PM Senate STA

           HJR 22-DIVERSE COMMUNITY/CONDEMN HATE CRIMES                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
Representative  Brian Porter, bill  sponsor, said it is unfortunate                                                             
that it is necessary to  write and pass this type of legislation but                                                            
in light of the  [paintball] incident in Anchorage  the necessity is                                                            
apparent  and  it is  appropriate  for  the legislature   to make  a                                                            
statement of this type.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Most legislators have had  the opportunity to review the tape of the                                                            
unfortunate  incident and  the actions  of the  three teenagers  are                                                            
reprehensible  at best.  "Having been  involved  in law enforcement                                                             
some time  myself,  there are periodically  offenses  that make  you                                                            
wonder if the  prohibition against  some forms of cruel and  unusual                                                            
punishment  are perhaps in need of  amendment. Obviously,  we should                                                            
not  respond  in kind  so  the  firm  statement  that that  kind  of                                                            
activity  is  reprehensible,  not  acceptable  and  we  should  look                                                            
further  in  trying  to  eliminate  this  type  of  behavior  is  an                                                            
appropriate statement by the legislature."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
He has  reviewed  the committee  substitute  (CS)  developed by  the                                                            
committee and has no problem with the substitute.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked  for a motion to adopt the S version dated                                                            
4/4/01.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PHILLIPS  moved adoption  of S version  dated 4/4/01  as the                                                            
working document. There was no objection.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said  that, as chairman, he was asked to look at                                                            
the title  and reduce  the resolution  to include  the major  points                                                            
from the title. They came up with three resolves.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
   1. Condemnation of the recent action in Anchorage.                                                                           
   2. Asking the municipal government to follow through with a                                                                  
     thorough investigation.                                                                                                    
   3. Asking the United States Commission on Civil Rights to conduct                                                            
     a full investigation.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
He looked  at the resolution  Senator Lincoln  introduced and  spoke                                                            
with Senator  Davis and asked for  the condemnation of the  acts and                                                            
for  the U.S.  Commission  on Civil  Rights  to conduct  its  formal                                                            
investigation.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
There were  no questions about the  CS, no additional testimony  and                                                            
no additional amendments offered.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
He asked for the will of the committee.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DAVIS moved  SCS CSHJR 22(STA)  and zero  fiscal note  from                                                            
committee with  individual recommendations. There  was no objection.